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Orange County HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Approved Meeting Summary April 24th, 2024 Bonnie Davis Center, 1020 US 70 West, Hillsborough MEMBERS PRESENT: Todd Dickinson, Tom Loter, Art Menius, Cecelia Moore, Anne Whisnant MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Peter Sandbeck GUESTS: None ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:34 pm. ITEM #2: CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA: None ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES for February 28th, 2024: Whisnant moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Moore; motion approved. ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DECISION: None ITEM #5: DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Landmark Evaluation Exercise: Morrow's Mill: Staff handed out a brief description of Morrow's Mill, in Bingham Township on Cane Creek, then explained that the owners had recently had to raise up the mill several feet as a result of serious flooding over the past five years. The operators of the Cane Creek reservoir are now releasing more water as a precaution in advance of heavy rainfall, which has been more of an issue in the last few decades. These releases created short term flooding that raised water up to a couple of feet into their living spaces. The present-day NC DOT bridge for the road creates a dam effect during these heavy releases. Staff provided a detailed PowerPoint presentation about the c.1878 mill and its history and significance as one of the county's two remaining water-powered grist mills from the 19th century. Photos showed the mill site, its setting near its intact stone dam, and the location of the still-extant mill race that leads from the dam to the mill. A historic photo shows how the building itself hasn't actually changed in its exterior form. It was purchased by Sample and Ina Forbus and converted into a residence in 1938, at which time additional windows were installed, and the interior finished out with colonial revival woodwork to create an attractive residence. Additional photos showed how it looked in the 1960. SThe mill essentially has two periods of significance, first as an important community milling center, then in the 1938-1960s period, as the residence of a notable writer who was part of the group of professionals (often attracted by UNC and Duke) into the area, who then purchased country residences and adapted them to modern living. A proposed landmark boundary would include the mill, the dam and the race but probably cut out the modern structures to the north. Members then carried out the landmark evaluation exercise, with extensive discussion about its architectural significance and overall physical integrity. The final total score, averaged out of all five members present, was 57, which is above the minimum score of 50 points needed to potentially qualify for landmark status. Staff explained that the next landmark evaluation will be one for the Neville Log House, along old 86 just south of New 1